Tag: Val Watkins

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2017-01-22: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Passover With The Disciples

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:37 — 10.8MB)

Sermon Audio: The Passover With The Disciples
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 22:7-20
Duration: 23:37
Size: 10.8 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Passover With The Disciples
Luke 22:7-20

In a very intentional way Jesus chose to have a Passover meal as his last meal with his disciples.

I. The Preparation for the Passover (Luke 22:7-13)

Most likely, Jesus sent Peter and John on this errand because he did not want Judas to know ahead of time where they would celebrate the Passover meal.

In fact, throughout the next thirty-six hours or so, it may seem as if things were out of control, but everything was developing according to God’s divine plan.

II. The Eating of the Passover (Luke 22:14-18)

You may recall that the Passover meal commemorated the deliverance of the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt.

There were several stages in the Passover meal, which was spread out over a period of hours and interspersed with conversation.

He was about to suffer and be crucified in order to save sinners, but his great desire was to eat his last meal with those whom he came to save.

The people of God would celebrate the new sacrament of the new covenant in Christ by eating the bread and drinking the wine of the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is a celebration of the new covenant.

III. The Institution of the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20)

The unleavened bread was now given a new and greater significance. It represented Jesus’ body and the affliction he would endure on the cross.

By calling the cup “the new covenant in my blood,” Jesus was replacing the old covenant of the constant shedding of blood of the sacrificial lambs at Passover with the once-for-all shedding of his own blood to pay the penalty for our sin.

He would give a meal to his disciples to remember before making the sacrifice they would never forget.

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2017-01-15: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The Plot To Kill Jesus

Luke - The Investigative Gospel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:38 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: The Plot To Kill Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 22:1-6
Duration: 20:38
Size: 9.45 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Plot To Kill Jesus
Luke 22:1-6

In Luke 22 the focus shifts from Jesus’ interaction with the religious leaders and teaching of his disciples to the events that lead up to Jesus’ death on the cross (Luke 22-23), followed by the account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (Luke 24).

I. The Attempt to Kill Jesus (Luke 22:1-2)

Passover commemorated the deliverance of the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt (see Exodus 12).

The religious leaders’ frustration with Jesus had been growing over the years.

Luke noted that the first ones to seek actively the death of Jesus were the religious leaders.

All teachers of God’s word must be examined in light of God’s word.

II. The Agreement to Kill Jesus (Luke 22:3-6)

Because the religious leaders feared the people, and they did not want to cause a riot, they were not able to find a way to kill Jesus.

A. A Diabolical Reason (Luke 22:3)

Luke did not elaborate on what is meant by Satan who entered into Judas.

Judas ought to cause every professing Christian to examine himself daily to see whether he is in fact a genuine Christian.

B. A Financial Reason (Luke 22:4-6)

There is nothing sinful about money in itself. It is the love of money that is the problem.

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2016-11-13: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – A Three Fold Warning

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:19 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: A Three Fold Warning!
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 21:5-38
Duration: 22:19
Size: 10.2 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
A Three Fold Warning
Luke 21:5-38

They admired the temple for is architectural grandeur, and its expensive decorations.

In the midst of all these tumultuous end times events Jesus specifically warns the believer about three very real dangers.

First he warns, DON’T BE DECEIVED

Dispute: The first thing that Satan did in tempting Eve was to dispute the Word of God.

Deny: The next thing Satan does is contradict the word of God.

Displace: God’s Word. May I suggest to you that Satan telling Eve that because she will be as God is she can decide for herself what is good and what is evil.

Secondly he warns, DO NOT BE AFRAID.

It is a mistake to take these separate happenings as infallible indications that the end of the age is immediately in sight.

People need not be caught unprepared. God warns and provides an escape to those who will heed the rumblings.

Rather than being blown away by persecution (whether it is religious, secular or domestic) we are to persevere, to endure, to stand firm.

Third, He warns, DO NOT BE DISTRACTED

His message is that people across the world in that day were caught up in doing the ordinary things.

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2016-11-06: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:32 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 21:5-19
Duration: 19:32
Size: 8.94 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The End Of Times? Fear? Hopefulness!
Luke 21:5-19

Listen, the world is falling apart, and the church can’t do a thing about it.

Fear about the end of time, or gladness that we who believe will be with Christ at the end of time.

The world may be falling apart around you, but having faith in Jesus will save you.

As we live out our days and await eternity – whenever It may come – why not spend every day trying to experience in some way the joy of living, no matter how many days we may have to live?

A pickle jar was and is a symbol of hope in their world.

Where is your pickle jar?

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2016-10-30: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – Beware Of The Scribes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:44 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Beware Of The Scribes
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:45-21:4
Duration: 18:44
Size: 8.58 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Beware Of The Scribes
Luke 20:45-21:4

Then Jesus contrasted the actions of the scribes with those of a poor widow.

Any sin separates us from God and so in that sense all sin is the same.

I. Avoid Condemnation from Jesus

A. Jesus’ Criticisms

Although Jesus’ warning was in relation to the scribes, it seems that it was directed to all in any position of religious leadership.

1. Pride

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and yet he temporarily set aside the glory of heaven in order to come to earth to serve sinful persons like us.

2. Greed

Jesus literally owned only the clothes on his back and was teaching his disciples to be content with what they had.

3. Hypocrisy

However, praying so that others may see us or hear what we say is hypocrisy.

B. Jesus’ Judgment

The only way to escape condemnation is to repent of our sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.

II. Seek Commendation from Jesus

A. Jesus’ Observations

So, Jesus was near the Trumpets when he saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.

B. Jesus’ Comments

First, when it comes to giving, the spirit in which I give determines its value.

Second, the value of my giving is determined by the sacrifice which it involves.

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2016-10-23: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – Whose Son Is The Christ?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:44 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Whose Son Is The Christ?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 20:41-44
Duration: 20:44
Size: 9.49 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Whose Son Is The Christ?
Luke 20:41-44

Wright goes on to say that some people struggle with the nature of Jesus’ identity.

The problem for the people in Jesus’ day is that the kind of Christ that they were expecting was very different than the one God sent.

I. Jesus Is David’s Son, Therefore Affirming His Human Nature

In Jesus’ day the people all agreed that the Christ would be a descendant of King David. So that is where Jesus started.

Meticulous records were kept in the temple, and no one accused Jesus of not being a physical descendant of King David.

II. Jesus Is David’s Lord, Therefore Affirming His Divine Nature

Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm – a psalm that makes explicit prophecies about the coming of the Christ.

Most English translations print this Lord with a capital letter to show that it refers to God himself.

Psalm 110 then is a dialogue between the LORD God (Jehovah) and the Lord Christ.

Yet, here is King David giving honor to the Christ, acknowledging the superiority of his descendant.

Jesus wanted to help his listeners understand that his resurrection from the dead would be crucial to understanding his identity, particularly his divine nature.

So, Jesus is David’s son, therefore affirming his human nature. And Jesus is also David’s Lord, therefore affirming his divine nature.